OUTDOORS: Montgomery County bowhunters lead state deer harvest

The first segment of the Tennessee archery-only season for deer closed Friday evening, and bowhunters from Montgomery County led the state in both the number of deer harvested (409) and the number of antlered bucks checked in (139) according to harvest data provided by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

Stewart County was also in the top 10 counties with 322 deer harvested, including 102 antlered bucks.

Weather has been favorable for deer hunters this fall and the statewide harvest for the first segment of the archery-only season (28 days) was 14,761 deer, although the total may be higher as late harvest reports come in. The harvest is the third highest on record for the period, behind 15,287 deer taken in 2010 and 14,991 in 2009.

Following Montgomery County in the deer harvest is Roane County (407), Giles County (390), Lincoln County (390), Franklin County (362), Hamilton County (339), Stewart County (322), Sullivan County (315), Cumberland County (313) and Carter County (308).

In the surrounding counties, Houston County had 72 deer checked in, Dickson County 164, Cheatham County 102 and Robertson County 85.

Catoosa Wildlife Management Area was the top WMA for bowhunters with a harvest of 105 deer, followed by Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge (77), Cross Creeks NWR (58), Tennessee portion of Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (57) and Percy Priest WMA (57).

A statewide youth hunt is underway this weekend, and the second segment of the archery-only season will open tomorrow and run through Nov. 8. The muzzleloader/archery season will run Nov. 9-22, followed by the gun/muzzleloader/archery season Nov. 23-Jan. 5. A second statewide youth hunt will close out the season on January 11-12.

Maury County led the state's turkey harvest with 129 birds, followed by Greene County (76), Rutherford County (62), Cheatham County (60), Sullivan County (58), Wilson County (54), Smith County (46), Cocke County (42), Dickson County (41) and White County (41).

The turkey harvest in Montgomery County was 29 birds, with 11 birds in Stewart County, one bird in Houston County, and 37 birds in Robertson County.

The Montgomery County harvest included nine bearded gobblers, three juvenile birds and 17 hens.

For additional information concerning deer and turkey hunting in Tennessee, visit the TWRA's website at www.tnwildlife.org.

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OUTDOORS: Montgomery County bowhunters lead state deer harvest

The first segment of the Tennessee archery-only season for deer closed Friday evening, and bowhunters from Montgomery County led the state in both the number of deer harvested (409) and the number of